The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MOCA GA) collects and exhibits contemporary works of art by Georgia artists. This small museum in Atlanta began in 2000 as a combination of two private collections featuring more than 250 works of art by over 100 Georgia artists. Today the permanent collection has more than doubled its original size and includes paintings, sculpture, photography, and other mediums.
MOCA GA was one of the first facilities to specifically showcase Georgia artists. The museum preserves and archives this segment of the state's culture. In addition, the museum serves as an educational facility. Major funding is provided by the Georgia Council for the Arts, the Fulton County Department of Arts and Culture, and the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs.
The museum's permanent collection features more than 750 works of contemporary art from the mid 1940s to the present. A variety of styles are included, from folk art to minimalism. Nearly 200 artists are represented in the collection.
Several interesting exhibitions are scheduled for the spring and summer of 2012. "Gregor Turk: Terminal Velocity" is scheduled for May 5-July 14. This exhibition is a MOCA Working Artists Project, a visual arts award program that supports artists from the metro Atlanta area. Turk's work utilizes a variety of media and often incorporates mapping imagery. His public art commissions include works for Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and the Jacksonville International Airport. Atlanta Print, an Atlanta Printmaker's Studio exhibition will run from May 5-June 30. From May 19-July 28 visitors can view "Kevin Cole Straight from the Soul: 25 Years in the Making." Cole is an Atlanta artist and educator who often utilizes mixed media. Two of his works are included in the museum's permanent collection. An upcoming fundraiser, the MOCA Gala Art Auction 2012 is scheduled for April 21. All auction pieces are created by Georgia artists.
Café MOCA is the museum's program for high school artists. The program introduces young artists to professional artists and gives them a support network in which to develop career choices in the arts. Workshops, artist talks, and fieldtrips are scheduled throughout the year. Archives, libraries, and other resources are available to the public through MOCA's Education/Resource Center.
The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia is located in the TULA Art Center at 75 Bennett Street, in the Buckhead area of Atlanta. Museum hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-5pm. Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for students and seniors.
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